When Mike Ivy was assigned to a new unit at his Myrtle Beach hospital in 1998, the last thing he expected to find was the love of his life. A divorced father of two and veteran cardiac telemetry registered nurse, his focus was on learning the ropes of his new unit.
But Ivy did find someone that October. Serendipitously, his now-wife was assigned to the same unit as a case manager. Their professional days were spent reviewing patient records and administering transfers to other facilities.
“My wife is an astute, passionate, empathetic and caring registered nurse,” Ivy says, “just the type of person you want to have in your corner.”
It’s a nurse’s job to provide comfort and care for their patients. So it stands to reason that they would also make excellent partners in life.
Still need more evidence? We enlisted some real nursing spouses to share a few of the other sweet, somewhat fluffy, but altogether valuable reasons everyone should marry a nurse.
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You should marry a nurse because…
1. They work in shifts
Nurses who work three 12-hour shifts often only need to find care for their days on, cutting down on the ever-rising cost of childcare.
2. They know how to handle an injury
Ivy has experience with everything from smashed bones, to snake bites, to cancer and his wife has been at his side helping him all along.
3. They understand the importance of check-ups
Many people loathe going to the doctor. Francis Howland says his wife always reminds him to stay up to date on his check-ups, keeping his blood pressure in check and even finding melanoma that he had removed.
4. They’re good listeners
Patients tend to ramble and nurses become good at making them feel heard and picking out what’s important. “My wife not only listens but shows that she cares,” says John Poole.
5. They can save your furniture from renegade children
Nurses are masters at getting exotic stains out of their scrubs each week. After dealing with the types of stains they’re used to, removing a little grape juice on the couch will be a breeze!
6. You get little reminders of how wonderful they are
Patients are typically very grateful for the care of a good nurse. David Ayer says people often confront his wife when they are out on the town just to thank her for her care.
7. They are incredibly patient
Part of a nurse’s job is helping people get through uncomfortable situations. It takes a lot of patience to deal with patients that don’t handle it well.
8. They can create order out of chaos
One of the duties of a nurse is to triage issues and create organization. This comes in very handy when it comes to running a household.
9. They’re the best caretakers
A nurse’s on-the-job experience gives him or her the knowledge to handle healthcare in their personal life. Ashley Sumrall says her husband’s experience as a pediatric nurse equipped him to stay at home and care for their disabled daughter.
10. They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty
After 40 hours of dealing with various bodily fluids and excrement, digging out the hair from a drain or scrubbing a toilet bowl seems like a piece of cake.
11. They’re great teammates
Nurses are used to sharing tasks and rewards in a team setting. They will be a true partner to you as a spouse as well.
12. They can talk you through scary situations
It can be hard to see friends go through tough times. Howland says his wife often helps calm his nerves when loved ones undergo medical procedures by explaining the details and reassuring him of the recovery processes.
13. They have a can-do attitude
You might hear nurses joke that if you give them coffee, a marker and tape they will figure out a way to do their job. William Summer says it’s that resourceful attitude that drove his wife to build her own living room furniture and clean out a drawer of mice without flinching.
14. They can work almost anywhere
The field of nursing has more demand than nurses to fill it. Your spouse will be a useful addition to any community you move to, if you ever need to move. They are unlikely to be constrained to one location or even one type of location. Whether you want to move to a hustling urban center or a calm, rural landscape--your spouse has a job everyone needs.
You can rest easy knowing they are in a secure field that will probably stay that way for years to come.
15. They know when to worry
Nurses are good at evaluating a situation and deciding whether or not it’s cause for concern. Allan Gourlie says he always felt at ease when caring for his kids because he knew it wasn’t serious unless his wife got worried.
16. They can navigate confusing, grown-up things
Nurses often have to help their patients with insurance claims and coverage plans. Howland says this knowledge came in handy when he and his wife were narrowing down insurance plans.
17. They know all the good healthcare providers
Nurses work in your healthcare community, meaning they have the inside scoop on the best doctors and specialty practitioners. You won’t have to guess who the best surgeon is in town next time you tear your anterior ligament.
18. They could actually save your life
When you are out hiking, mountain climbing or even just riding your bike, you never know when it might come in handy to have someone who is trained in first aid along. Being married to a nurse is like having a built-in safety net to say the least.
The question is, why not marry a nurse?
There is a reason nurses have been voted the most-trusted profession for many years. It takes a special type of person to commit to a field that is entirely dedicated to the care of others. For that reason alone, nurses make excellent life partners.
The fact of the matter is that as a country, we need more nurses and we aren’t graduating enough students to fill the demand. As many as 300,000 nursing positions may not be filled in time with current graduating trends. There is no better time than right now to become a nurse.
With no wait list for qualified candidates, four enrollment opportunities and extensive transfer policies, perhaps Rasmussen College is the right fit for you to get your nursing career started. Check out 10 facts you may not have realized about the Rasmussen College Nursing program and follow the nursing blog to stay ahead of the curve.
